Directed by Tony Dow Production code Special edition | Produced by Clyde Holcroft | |
Written by Jim Sullivan, Dan Sullivan and John Sullivan Original air date 21 March 2014
(9.53 million viewers) Running time 10 minutes
10:27 (iTunes) | ||
The Sport Relief special, also referred to as "Beckham in Peckham" was an edition of the BBC sit-com, Only Fools and Horses, recorded as part of the Sport Relief 2014 appeal. It was screened on 21 March 2014. Actors David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst reprised their roles as Del Boy and Rodney in the sketch written by Jim Sullivan and Dan Sullivan, which included previously unused material written by their father John Sullivan, who created and wrote every episode of the series. footballer David Beckham guest stars. Beckham was also the person that got in touch with Jim Sullivan, the son of the late Only Fools and Horses creator John Sullivan about doing something for Sport Relief 2014.
Contents
According to Shazam Productions there was a lot of interest in the sketch. The return of Only Fools and Horses was eagerly awaited by fans of the show, which ran from 1981 until 2003.
The special was dedicated to the memory of John Sullivan and Roger Lloyd-Pack, who had both died prior to its broadcast.
Synopsis
An unspecified amount of time after the series' last regular episode "Sleepless in Peckham," Del Boy is in Peckham market, trying to sell "Golden Balls" underpants which are supposedly endorsed and signed by David Beckham (in return for Del Boy securing a bouncy castle for the birthday party of one of Beckham's children), with Rodney serving as a less-than-enthusiastic model. After failing to sell anything, the Trotters retreat to a nearby cafe, where Rodney complains about Del's treatment of him. Del apologises, mentioning several incidents where he had mistreated Rodney. (These being incidents from previous regular Only Fools and Horses episodes.) Sharing the table with the two is David Beckham, who it turns out actually has endorsed the underpants. The three briefly chat, including Rodney and Beckham discussing their favourite artist (Rodney choosing Matisse, and Beckham choosing Tony Hart), before Beckham gives Rodney tips on how to model underwear effectively, advising him to "glide" and "oscillate."
Later on, Del is again trying to sell the underpants, with Rodney putting on a bizarre, vaguely feminine walk, and being even more angry at Del than he was before. Beckham is discreetly watching this, when a young boy walks up to him, and asks him if he's David Beckham. He says that he is, and signs the boy's football, but says not to tell anyone he is there, as he does not want too much attention. Beckham then attempts to lean back on a goods cart, but a trader moves it away while he isn't looking and he falls to the ground (referencing a famous moment in the episode "Yuppy Love"), getting the attention of everyone in the market. Del and Rodney comment, "What a plonker!"
Reception
Fans and critics praised the sketch and called it a fitting tribute to the late Roger Lloyd-Pack and John Sullivan.